Lubricating compound



UNI'IE' STATES PATENT rrroa.

JOHN B. NORRIS, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

LUBRICATING COMPOUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,786, dated November 22, 1881.

Application filed July 29, 1881. (Specimens) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. NORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricating Compounds, (for which I have not received any foreign patent, nor am I aware that any patent has been applied for or granted heretofore to any one for the improved lubricating compound herein described;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of my improvements is to prevent undue friction and wear, and to keep the journals, axles, and spindles of railroad-cars, other vehicles, and mill-machinery cool, so as to retain their normal condition of hardness, and also to prevent undue gumming and dripping, which frequently occurs with injurious results, when inferior lubricators are used, and also to effectually produce important results, hereinafter more fully explained.

Formula: Into a suitable mixing-receptacle put equal parts, by weight, of pure finely-re-' duced mica, ocher, and marble-dust, more or less quantity in the aggregate, as required. To the above add as much of any kind of good clean lubricating-oil as the above three substances will absorb. Then add three (3) gallons (or more, if necessary, to give properlubricatin g consistency) of cleanly-strained petroleum or kerosene residuum, to which add as much sal-soda as will be absorbed by the residuum. Stir and mix all thoroughly. Next take four (4) pounds of ordinarytallow andone(1)pound of concentrated lye, with two (2) gallons of water. Boil these last-named articles together about two (2) hours, and after the tallow is thoroughly saponified add three (3) gallons more of water and reboil about thirty (30) minutes longer. From the above boiled mass there will be a deposit or precipitate, and as this will not unite chemically, therefore, while the mass is cooling, add about one-fourth (3;) of a pound of glycerine of commerce, stirring all thoroughly, thus mixing the whole mass 1nechanically. Finally, add all the several mixed ingredients together, and pass them through a reducing-mill, and after being thus thoroughly ground and incorporated together, the mass, being of proper consistency, will be ready for corroding substance.

storage in suitable vessels, to be used as required.

Larger quantities can be made by observing the same relative proportions.

In my new and original use of mica in a lubricating compound. important results have been developed, and the great desideratum long sought for has been completely attained.

It is well known, in practical mechanical experience with railroad and other heavy machinery, that axles and journals from various causes become sometimes granulated, roughened, or have flaws, depressions, or inequalities or flS- sures on their surfaces, and in the employment of mica, because of its peculiar laminiferous properties, all defects named become completely filled up and coated over, thus forming artificially a smooth polished surface, both of axle or journal and their respective boxes.

A reference to a book entited Thurston on Lubricators will give an idea of the importance of using some needed anti-frictional substances for coating over metal surfaces and filling up inequalities.

I am fully aware that sal-soda and many other alkaline substances have been used, mixed with other ingredients, forming lubrieating compounds for cooling purposes; and I am also fully aware that lime has been used as an absorbent; but I can nowhere discover that pure marble-dust in its primitive condition has been employed. Lime is a caustic and Marble is a primitive substance containing carbonic acid. Lime is an artificial substance divested of carbonic acid through the action of heat. Lime cannot be used with either mica or ocher, because such a combination would produce a solid or semi -solid cement-like substance perfectly worthless.

' I am also aware that steatite (or soapstone) has been used as an absorbent in the manufacture of lubricators, and although this substance partakes somewhat of a greasy nature, still it does not possess the twofold property of a transparent and laminiferous or foliated text ure pertaining to mica. Soapstone is dense or massive, containing more or less of magnesia, and is somewhat granular or gritty. Mica has little if any magnesia as yet discovered by science, nor the least grit. Consequently the two substances are mostmarked unlike in their primitive structure, and are not equivalents in texture or equals in their inherent chemical or original properties, nor can the said two substances be used in like cases for like purposes.

I am fully aware that sal-soda, concentrated lye, and other alkaline substances have been more or less used as ingredients in lubricating compounds; but such in themselves I do not claim. I have also learned that mica or isinglass has been used for packing steam-engine machinery, and therefore I do not claim mica in itself as a lubricant.

Having given a full, clear, and exact description of the several ingredients entering into and composing my improved lubricating compound, and having clearly referred to the peculiar laminiferous property of mica in producin g improved and important results 1n its use,

what I claim, and desire to have secured by his JOHN x B. NORRIS.

1n ark.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. WINS, H. H. DE LEON, Jr. 

